Cushion-stuffing machine



Dec. 24, 1929. L. H. LOWERY 'ET AL 1,740,865

CUSHION STUFFING MACHINE Filed Dec. 192

Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFHCE LOUIS H. LOWERY AND JULIUS KRAMER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR-S TO PULL- MAN COUCH COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORFORATION OF ILLINOIS CUSHION -STUFFING MACHINE Application filed December S, 1927.

This invention relates in general to a machine for inserting a pillow or a filling in a cover, and has more particular reference to a simple, compact and eflicient device for accomplishing this result. A further ob ect of the invention is to provide a simple actuating mechanism for the machine and means for returning the actuated parts to their normal or rest positions.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cushion stuffing machine constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention; and

Figure 2 is a front elevation.

In a cushion stuffing machine, the padding or filling for the cushion is first assembled upon a table with enclosing metal sides open at the ends, a cushion cover is inserted over one end of the enclosing sides, and the stuffing is projected into the cover, at the same time pushing the cover from the enclosing metal sides and filling the Cover with the stufiing. This operation may be performed in a varlety of ways, and the present invention 1s designed and intended to provide a slmple mechanism for accomplishing the result without the addition of any unnecessary parts which are likely to get out of order or to require frequent repalr or attention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, a pair of side frames 4 are connected by one or more cross pieces 5, and at the top of the frame thus formed is a fixed table plate 6 having a slot 7 opening from the rear edge, and extending under the opposite sides of the plate 6 are angular sides 8 mounted for sliding lateral adjustment with respect to the plate 6.

The lateral movement of the angular side plates 8 may be effected by means of a shaft 9 having right and left screw threaded portions 10 and 11 adapted to engage correspondingly threaded blocks 12 and 13 connected to the corresponding opposite side plates 8. At one end of the shaft 9 is a hand wheel 1% with a handle 15 for rotating it to Serial No. 238,541.

move the blocks 12 and 13 and the sides 8 oppositely. The blocks 12 and 13 which are connected to the sides 8 may be mounted to slide between the parallel guides and supports 16 upon which the sides 8 are laterally slidable.

Pivoted to the upper edge of each of the sides 8 by means of a hinge 17 is a cover plate 18, the two opposite cover plates being adapted to overlap atthe center and one of the cover plates having a catch 19 attached thereto for engaging the other in downward position and having a recess 20 between the lower side of it and the upper face of its cover plate so that the opposite cover plate 18 may slide therebetween when the width of the stufi'ing receiver is reduced to sufficiently increase the overlap of the cover plates.

A plunger 21 is mounted at one end of a bar or rod 22, the other end of which is pivoted at the upper end of a lever 23 so that the movement of the lever reciprocates the plunger on top of the central plate 6. The lower end of the lever 23 is pivoted in a bracket 2a supported by the cross piece 5, and pivoted intermediate the ends of the lever is an arm 25 having a projection 26 at its outer end for engagement with a rotatable operating member 27. The other end of this arm 25 projects beyond the lever 23 and is pivotally engaged by a rod 26 which extends through a guide bracket 27 carried by the lever 28 and is attached to one end 28 of a foot pedal mounted adjacent this end upon a pivot 29 supported in the frame 4 and having a foot engaging portion 80 at the other end disposed at the front of the machine. Mounted on the rod 26 between the bracket 27 and the end 28 of the pedal is a spring 31 which tends to pull the outer engageable end of the arm 25 in an upward position out of engagement with the member 27 and to raise the outer or free end of the pedal. lVhen the free end 30 is depressed, the engageable end of the arm 25 is moved into the path of the rotatable member 27 where the projection 26 is engaged in one of the opposite notches 32 thereof.

The operating member 27 is mounted intermediate its ends to rotate upon a shaft 33 extending from a speed reduction mechanism 34 which is operated by an electric motor 35 or any other suitable source of power. During the time this machine is being used, the motor is driven continuously, but the operating lever 23 is only reciprocated when the projection of the arm 25 is moved into the path of the rotatable member 27. As soon as the projection is drawn in the direction of the arrow, as shown in Figure 1, and under the center of the shaft 33, the engaging notch 32 being open permits the projection to be disengaged therefrom, the spring 31 drawing the arm out of engaging position, and the operating lever 23 returns to its normal or inoperative position, as shown in Figure 1.

To cushion this movement, a projecting boss 36 extends from the lower end of the lever through which a rod 37 is inserted having a head 38 at one end and attached at the other to an arm 39 which may be mounted upon a shaft 40 extending through the bracket 24:. Surrounding this rod 37 is a coil spring 41 which is compressed by the movement of the operating lever in the return direction.

With this construction, it is apparent that the size of the table for receiving the padding may be adjusted by moving the sides and the cover plates 18 being hinged at the upper ends of the sides are easily turned back for access to the padding on the table. When the padding is properly assembled the covers 18 are closed and a cushion cover is inserted over the enclosing sides, the sides then being moved outwardly to extend the cushion cover as much as possible. The extremity of the pedal 30 is then depressed, which moves the arm 25 into position so that its project-ion is engaged by the rotatable member 27 which carries the arm 25 and the operating lever forwardly and rearwardly and then allows its release near the end of a complete stroke by the action of the spring 31, thus actuating the plunger 21 to eject the filling from the table and enclosing sides and discharging the filling into the cushion cover which is placed over the sides to receive it. The operating lever is thus returned and released at the end of each complete operation; only a complete operation is made each time the pedal is depressed; and when one operation is complete, the operating lever is automatically returned to its normal position with no danger of accidentally operating it until the operating pedal is again depressed.

lVhile the preferred embodiment of this invention has been described, it is obvious that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scopeof this invention.

lVe claim:

1. In a cushion stufiing machine, a filling table comprising a fixed central plate, a pair of adjustable side plates fittingbelow the 0pposite edges of the central plate and having overlapping covers extending above the fixed plate, one of the covers having a locking projection attached thereto with a recess between it and its cover into which the overlapping edge of the opposite cover extends when the cover plates are brought a predetermined distance together by the adjustment of the sides.

2. In a cushion stuffing machine, an adjustable filling table comprising a fixed central plate, a pair of side plates extending below the fixed plate and upwardly at their outer edges, covers having a bent corner pivoted longitudinally of the side plates at their upper edges and below the top of the table filling space, and foldable oppositely to uncover the entire width of thetable and overlapping at the center to enclose the filling, means for operating the side plates in unison for adjustment comprising a shaft extending below the table and having an operating hand wheel at one end of the shaft disposed beyond the widest ustment of the sides, the upper portion of the hand wheel being below the level of the hinge at the upper edge of the adjacent side so that the cover plate of this side may be opened without obstructing the hand wheel.

3. In a cushion stufiing machine, the combination with an adjustable filling table of a plunger reciprocable therein, an operating lever for the plunger, continuous drive mechanism, and means for engaging the operating lever for one complete movement, said means comprising a rotatable member having a hook in one edge thereof and an arm extending from the operating lever having a projection thereon to engage the notch, the projection disengaging from the notch as the rotation of the operating member opens the notch to the discharge thereof.

4. In a cushionstutfing machine, a reciprocable plunger, an operating lever therefor, continuous drive mechanism including a rotatable arm having an engaging notch in one edge thereof, an operating arm attached to the lever having a projection for engaging in the notch, means for moving the operating arm into position to engage in the notch, and resilient means for returning the operating lever to normal position and cushioning its return when the said projection is carried by the notch of the operating member in a position to open the notch and allow the free discharge of the projection.

5. In a cushion stuffing machine, a reciprocable plunger, a pivoted operating lever for the plunger, a continuous driving mechanism comprising an operating arm having an open engaging notch in one edge thereof, means comprising a projection for engaging the notch to move the lever in one direction as the arm is rotated, the notch being open to permit the escape of the'projection for moving the lever in the reverse direction, resilient means for returning and cushioning the return of the operating lever to its normal inoperative position, and a pedal for operating the engaging means to move the projection thereof into a position to he engaged by the notch of the operating arm.

6. In a cushion stuffing machine, a reciprocable plunger, a pivoted operating lever therefor, a continuous drive mechanism including a rotatable arm having an engaging notch in one side of the arm, an arm carried by the lever having a projection to engage the notch, a pedal connected by a rod with the lever arm to move it into position so that the projection thereof engages the notch of the operating arm, a spring surrounding the rod and operative to Withdraw the projection from the notch when the lever completes a full stroke in both directions, and means for cushioning the return of the lever to its normal position.

LOUIS H. LOXVERY. JULIUS KRAMER. 

